Study Notes
PARAGRAPH 10 (contd…..)
But if life, however rudimentary in its symptoms, exists in the metal, it must be admitted as present, involved perhaps or elementary and elemental in the earth or other material existences akin to the metal. If we can pursue our inquiries farther, not obliged to stop short where our immediate means of investigation fail us, we may be sure from our unvarying experience of Nature that investigations thus pursued will in the end prove to us that there is no break, no rigid line of demarcation between the earth and the metal formed in it or between the metal and the plant and, pursuing the synthesis farther, that there is none either between the elements and atoms that constitute the earth or metal and the metal or earth that they constitute. Each step of this graded existence prepares the next, holds in itself what appears in that which follows it. Life is everywhere, secret or manifest, organised or elemental, involved or evolved, but universal, all-pervading, imperishable; only its forms and organisings differ.
EXPLANATION
But even if the life exists in the metal, however rudimentary in its symptoms, it must be admitted as present. It must be admitted as involved or elementary and elemental in the earth or other material existences similar to the metal.
We can pursue our inquiries further. We need not stop even if our immediate means of investigation fail us. We may be sure from our unvarying experience of Nature that our investigations in the end will prove that there is no break or rigid line of demarcation between the earth and the metal formed in it or between the metal and the plant. Going further we will find that there is no line of demarcation between the elements and atoms that constitute the earth or metal and the metal or earth they constitute.
Each step of this graded existence prepares the next. Each step holds in itself what appears in that which follows it. Life is everywhere, secret or manifest, organised or elemental, involved or evolved. But it is universal, all-pervading, imperishable. Only its forms and organisings differ.
PARAGRAPH 11
We must remember that the physical response to stimulus is only an outward sign of life, even as are breathing and locomotion in ourselves. An exceptional stimulus is applied by the experimenter and vivid responses are given which we can at once recognise as indices of vitality in the object of the experiment. But during its whole existence the plant is responding constantly to a constant mass of stimulation from its environment; that is to say, there is a constantly maintained force in it which is capable of responding to the application of force from its surroundings. It is said that the idea of a vital force in the plant or other living organism has been destroyed by these experiments. But when we say that a stimulus has been applied to the plant, we mean that an energised force, a force in dynamic movement has been directed on that object, and when we say that a response is given, we mean that an energised force capable of dynamic movement and of sensitive vibration answers to the shock.
EXPLANATION
Physical response to stimulus is only an outward sign of life as we consider our breathing and movement are. An exceptional stimulus is applied by the experimenter. To the stimulus, vivid responses are given which we recognise as signs of life in the object of experiment.
But we must know that during its whole existence the plant is responding to a constant mass of stimulation from its environment. There is a constantly maintained force in the plant. This force is capable of responding to the application of force from its surroundings. The man-made experiments give a wrong notion of life in plants equating it only with responses to mechanical stimulus.
When a stimulus is applied to the plant, we mean that an energised force, a dynamic force has been directed on the object. When we say a response is given, we mean that an energised force capable of dynamic movement and of sensitive vibration answers to that shock.
There is a vibrant reception and reply, as well as a will to grow and be, indicative of a submental, a vital-physical organisation of consciousness-force hidden in the form of being. The fact would seem to be, then, that as there is a constant dynamic energy in movement in the universe which takes various material forms more or less subtle or gross, so in each physical body or object, plant or animal or metal, there is stored and active the same constant dynamic force; a certain interchange of these two gives us the phenomena which we associate with the idea of life. It is this action that we recognise as the action of Life-Energy and that which so energises itself is the Life-Force. Mind-Energy, Life-Energy, material Energy are different dynamisms of one World-Force.
EXPLANATION
There is a submental, a vital-physical organisation of consciousness-force hidden in the form of being. It is responsible for a vibrant reception and reply as well as a will to grow and be. It is a fact that there is a constant dynamic energy in movement in the universe. It takes various material forms more or less subtle or gross. So, in each physical body or object, plant or animal or metal, the same dynamic force is stored and active. A certain interchange of these two forces gives us the phenomena which we associate with the idea of life.
It is this action that we recognise as the action of Life-Energy. That which so energises itself is the Life-Force. Mind-Energy, Life-Energy, material-Energy are different dynamisms of one World-Force.
PARAGRAPH 12
Even when a form appears to us to be dead, this force still exists in it in potentiality although its familiar operations of vitality are suspended and about to be permanently ended. Within certain limits that which is dead can be revived; the habitual operations, the response, the circulation of active energy can be restored; and this proves that what we call life was still there in the body, latent, that is to say, not active in its usual habits, its habits of ordinary physical functioning, its habits of nervous play and response, its habits in the animal of conscious mental response.
EXPLANATION
We have seen in the earlier paragraph that there is organisation of consciousness-force hidden in the form of being. It is the Life-Force. It maintains dynamic energy of life in the body. Even when a form appears to us to be dead, this force exists in its potentiality. We call something dead when its familiar operations of vitality (breathing, movement etc.,) are suspended and about to be permanently ended.
That which is dead can be revived within certain limits. The habitual operations, the response, the circulation of active energy can be restored. It proves that what we call life was still there in the body. It means it was not active in its usual habits of ordinary physical functioning, its nervous response and its conscious mental response.
It is difficult to suppose that there is a distinct entity called life which has gone entirely out of the body and gets into it again when it feels—how, since there is nothing to connect it with the body? —that somebody is stimulating the form. In certain cases, such as catalepsy, we see that the outward physical signs and operations of life are suspended, but the mentality is there self-possessed and conscious although unable to compel the usual physical responses. Certainly, it is not the fact that the man is physically dead but mentally alive or that life has gone out of the body while mind still inhabits it, but only that the ordinary physical functioning is suspended, while the mental is still active.
EXPLANATION
It is difficult to suppose that there is a distinct entity called life that has gone out entirely out of the body and comes back again when it feels that somebody is stimulating the form. How it can happen since there is nothing to connect it with the body.
In certain cases, such as catalepsy (a trancelike state marked by loss of voluntary motion in which the body remains in whatever position it is placed) we see that the outward physical signs and operations are suspended. But the mind is conscious though unable to create the usual physical response.
Certainly, it is not the fact that the man is physically dead and mentally alive. Nor is it true that the life has gone out of the body while the mind is still active in it. But the fact is, the ordinary physical functioning is suspended, while the mental is still active.
PARAGRAPH 13
So also, in certain forms of trance, both the physical functionings and the outward mental are suspended, but afterwards resume their operation, in some cases by external stimulation, but more normally by a spontaneous return to activity from within. What has really happened is that the surface mind-force has been withdrawn into subconscious mind and the surface life-force into subactive life and either the whole man has lapsed into the subconscious existence or else he has withdrawn his outer life into the subconscious while his inner being has been lifted into the superconscient. But the main point for us at present is that the Force, whatever it be, that maintains dynamic energy of life in the body, has indeed suspended its outer operations, but still informs the organised substance.
EXPLANATION
In certain forms of trance (a half-conscious state without any external response) both the physical functioning and the mental activities are suspended. In some cases, normalcy is restored by external stimulation. But more normally there is a spontaneous return to activity from within.
In such cases the surface mind-force has been withdrawn into subconscious mind; the surface life-force into subactive life. Here either the whole man has lapsed into the subconscious state or he has withdrawn his outer into the subconscious while his inner being is lifted to superconscient.
The Main point is, the Force that maintains dynamic energy of life in the body has indeed suspended its outer operations but still gives the character of life to the organised substance (body).